Review of “Split”

* * * * A

M. Night Shyamalan is finally back in form with this disturbing thriller starring James “the professor” McAvoy as Barry, a disturbed man who abducts three teen aged girls and imprisons them. We soon discover that Barry is not the only personality inhabiting his body. His doctor, Karen Fletcher (played by Betty Buckley), has been studying his illness, Disassociative Personality Disorder, and has some outlandish theories about physical differences between different personalities of her patients.

Two of the girls are ordinary, but Casey Cooke (played by Anya Taylor-Joy) is not. She has her own secrets, which are slowly revealed over the course of the film. The two plot lines, alternate, with Barry playing cat and mouse first with Dr. Fletcher, then with Casey. I won’t spoil it, but the signature Shyamalan twist is present, though subtle. There is also a brilliant Easter egg after end of the film. A sequel, “Glass“, is already planned for 2019. Here’s hoping it’s as good.

#jamesmcavoy #karenfletcher #anyataylorjoy #bettybuckley #caseycooke #mnightshyamalan #dissassociativepersonalitydisorder